Food Geeks Bringing Comfort Food to Waxhaw

WAXHAW, NC — Food Geeks, a scratch-made comfort food concept with two existing locations in Charlotte and Monroe, is preparing to open very soon at 203 N Broome St Suite A, Waxhaw, NC 28173, owner TR Burns told Business Debut. The team has passed final inspections and is focused on securing the right staff before officially opening the doors.

Like the rest of the brand, the Waxhaw location will be a family-run operation, with Burns’ son, 18-year-old chef Terrence Burns Jr., set to lead the kitchen as head chef.

What to Expect

Food Geeks will operate as a fast-casual, dine-in restaurant. Guests can expect an emphasis on breakfast served all day alongside a lineup of hearty, homestyle plates.

Burns described Food Geeks as a true scratch kitchen, where breakfast items and comfort dishes are cooked to order. “Everything is made in house,” he told Business Debut, noting that nothing comes from the freezer or a can.

Menu and Vision

The Food Geeks menu centers on soul food and comfort food. Offerings range from items like oxtail tacos and specialty chicken and waffles to burgers, wings and vegan options such as vegan chicken and vegan mac and cheese.

Burns said the goal is to serve high-quality, filling meals for guests who want “good home cooking” on nights when they do not want to cook at home. He added that the brand is focused on growing in areas like Waxhaw, Monroe, Lancaster and Rock Hill, where he sees more chains and pizzerias than independent homestyle concepts.

Community Roots and Charitable Work

Food Geeks traces its roots to Pennsylvania, where Burns first started cooking out of his church in Bethlehem in 2018 under a concept called Hot Plate. He built a kitchen in the church and began serving lunch and dinner, eventually growing the idea into restaurant concepts that would later evolve into Food Geeks.

Burns moved the business to North Carolina around 2020, seeking a fresh start after challenges during the pandemic. Today, he said the mission remains centered on feeding people and bringing families together.

Food Geeks maintains a policy that if someone is hungry, the team will feed them with no questions asked. Each year, the restaurants provide free Thanksgiving meals the day before the holiday, feeding up to 1,000 people, and they organize toy drives.

Burns said a portion of proceeds from the restaurants go to a foundation run by his daughter that supports monthly outreach efforts such as providing food, baby formula and diapers to families in need.

Opening Timeline

Burns said the Waxhaw location could be ready to operate in a matter of days from a build-out standpoint. The opening timeline now depends on completing hiring and assembling the right staff.

An exact opening date is to be announced, but Burns said the restaurant is expected to open very soon.

Hours

The Waxhaw location is planned to open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday. Burns said the restaurant will offer breakfast and run through dinner on weekdays, with Sunday hours focused on afternoon and evening service.

Exact hours of operation are to be announced.

Follow for More

For updates on the Waxhaw opening, visit foodgeekseatery.com and follow Food Geeks on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.